MarinerRhodes
The reason we went to war was because of the WMDs there was no other reason given till after the invasion was over. When the WMD excuse failed, they tried tie Saddam to 9-11. And when that was proved wrong, they attempted the Democracy-Human Right excuse (except things are now worse then they were under Saddam). And all of this was AFTER the invasion had ended. You asked me how I know Bush is lying, a government that continually changes its story is a good indicator. My 8 year old cousin tells better tall tales.
The Human Rights-Democracy argument isn't an excuse either. Adolf Hitler claimed to be defending Human Rights when he invaded the Sudentenland and Poland. Stalin said the same thing about Eastern Europe. If Bush really cared about Human Rights he would have sent troops to Darfur 2 years ago, because what is going on in the Sudan is far worse than whats going on in Iraq. I find it amazing how anyone can claim Bush is standing up for Human Rights and Democracy in Iraq when our President has been busy dismantling both back at home.
The war-profiteering excuse is being used by Bush political enemies I don't deny that, but it also happens to be true. Halliburton had posted record profits for both 2004 and 2005. 2005 was $1.4 Trillion alone. The oil industry Mobile, Chevron, Texeco, have all posted record profits as well. Iraq has the 2nd largest oil supply in the world, its a no-brainer that big Business would come to exploit it. Big business is greedy, and predatory. It has always has been so. Its Teapot Dome all over again.
Common sense, thats how I know Bush lied. For example, remember when Blair claimed Saddam could launch missiles from silos within 45 Minutes. Only one problem, any defense analyst could tell you that Iraq had no ICBM silos or any rocket with the range to hit either Europe or America. A non existing missile armed with a non-existing warhead. Another piece of pure 100% BS was the whole Nigerian Yellow cake affair in which Bush's 2003 State of the Union contradicted the testimony of his own Chief Inspector because the truth didn't coincide with party doctrine. The No-bid contract debate is another Bush lie. He claimed all military bids would be by open bid when if fact it was closed bid, decided months before. Most of the Bids given to Halliburton and Bechtel. So on and so forth, one lie after another. If the president said the Earth were round I wouldn't believe it, thats how low his credibility is.
I might be wrong on this last part, as I admit I cannot say for certain has I have never served myself (although I regret it). So these are not my own experiences but of people I know. I have a hunch the reason most people enlist is not because they specifically want to go to Iraq. Perhaps the media does exaggerate about Iraq, but its not Disneyland either. There are 3800 dead servicemen who will agree with me on that point. My college buddies who were Gulf War vets didn't sign up to kick Saddam out of Kuwait. Most of them signed up for financial aid reasons. So I think they enlist for a multitude of reasons. A career, to get skills, for an education, a sense of patriotism, for money, etc. I only have 1 college friend who is currently serving in Iraq. He joined because they promised him he would fly. My father joined the US Army to pay for law school, not because he wanted to go to Vietnam.
Anyway we are probably getting too far OT...